Dan Coats: “the amendment I offer extends the Federal tort claim coverage to a health care professional if that health care…”

“the amendment I offer extends the Federal tort claim coverage to a health care professional if that health care professional volunteers his or her medical services to a medically underserved person. This is the same type of coverage--this is not new. We are not breaking new ground here. We extend that same type of Federal tort coverage for medical services provided in Indian health care facilities, in Federal community, migrant, homeless, and public housing health centers. What I am attempting to do here is extend it to those volunteer efforts--not paid--but volunteer efforts on the part of health care professionals if those medical services are provided to people from underserved areas that are deemed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services as medically underserved or medically needy. We have built into this significant patient protection, indicating that the patient must receive notice before providing the care, and that the provider has agreed not to charge the party for any health care that is provided, and that the medical malpractice liability is shifted to the Federal Tort Claims Act. We are not in any way limiting the plaintiff's right to receive compensation for negligence or for a successful award in a suit. We are just simply shifting it from the provider's insurance coverage to the Federal Tort Claims Act.”